Strictly Professional Read Online Free Page A

Gibson...”
    “Savannah.”
    “Huh?”
    “My name’s Savannah.”
    “All right—Savannah. You’ve had a rough day if our collision earlier was any indication. You were apparently upset then, too. I think you need to take a step back from Molly’s case and let someone else take care of her. You seem to be too involved.”
    Coming to her feet, she started to pace. “Doctor Cooper.”
    “Since we are passing out first names, you can call me Brandon.”
    “Brandon, I’m sorry about our run in. Yes, I was upset because of something someone said about my ability to be a physician.” Her bottom lip disappeared between her teeth and she chewed it for a moment before she continued. “I feel close to Molly. I sat with her. I held her hand, but I couldn’t tell her that her mother died. Now I feel responsible.”
      The warmth of his hands on her shoulders, made her tense before she relaxed. Firm and steady, the heat of his skin seeped through her lab coat and her scrubs to spread down her arms and back again.
    “Are you sure that’s what you want?”
    “Yes,” she whispered.
    “All right, then. Do what you need to, but if at any time I feel you’re getting too personally involved, I’m pulling you from the case.”
    Savannah turned to face him and looked up into his eyes. His baby-blue gaze stared back. His long eyelashes curled out from his piercing stare that seemed to look right into her soul. Dark brown hair framed his face and a five o’clock shadow of whiskers had just begun to coat his jaw. She had the insane urge to run her fingers over the stubble on his cheek and see if she could coax the dimple she’d seen earlier to reappear. Her lips parted instinctively when she focused on his full lips.
    He cleared his throat and stepped back. “I’ve got patients to see and you’ve got a father to talk to.”
    She nodded sharply and mentally kicked herself.
    He’s a cowboy, damn it! The last kind of guy I want. It doesn’t matter whether he’s drop-dead gorgeous or not.
    Squaring her shoulders, she grasped the doorknob and pulled.
    Marie stood on the other side with a worried expression as her gaze shifted back and forth between her and Brandon. “You okay, Doctor Gibson?”
    “Yeah. I’m fine. Doctor Cooper and I had a bit of a disagreement on Molly’s treatment, but it’s okay now.” She shot Brandon a glance. “Right?”
    Frown lines appeared between his eyebrows for a moment. “Yes. I’ll be in exam one if you need me.”
    “Sure.”
    Striding purposefully down the hallway without a backward glance, Savannah couldn’t help notice his ass in his scrubs and wondering what they looked like in tight Wranglers.
    Marie waved a hand in front of her eyes, bringing her focus back from his butt.
    “Damn girl, you’ve got it bad already, too.”
    “What?”
    “The 'hots' for Doctor Cooper.”
    “Whatever Marie. I do not. He’s just another overbearing, cocky, arrogant… cowboy!”
    Marie laughed so hard tears sprang into her eyes and Savannah frowned before she left her standing in the hall and headed for the conference room to talk to Molly’s father.
    Inhaling a fortifying breath, she opened the door. “Mr. Sanders?”
    The man spun around and Savannah’s heart skipped a beat when she met the eyes of the man she'd given her heart to in high school.
    Oh my God! Not Tony!
    “Savannah?”
    Ah shit! “Tony? What are you doing here?”
    “A cop called and said my wife and daughter are here. What are you doing here?”
    “I’m doing my residency and I’m working in the emergency room tonight.” Savannah took a deep breath. “Molly’s your daughter?”
    “Yeah. She’s okay, right? What about Stacy?”
    She closed her eyes until she felt his hand on her arm.
    “Savannah, tell me.”
    Her gaze met the green of his and flashes of their youth came rushing back. Tony had been the love of her life when they were in high school. The two of them had been inseparable for over a year, but when